By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The school district’s switch from the Indians to the Ravens is beginning its final phase.
The district’s team name and mascot are being changed as a result of a statewide Department of Education mandate forcing districts to do away with Indigenous team names, mascots and logos. Nearly 70 school districts around the state have been required to make the switch.
The RCS teams will remain the Indians for the rest of this school year, with the Ravens becoming the new name beginning in September 2024.
The Ravens name was selected following several rounds of voting by the community. The final phase of the process is coming up with a new logo.
“The next phase of the rebranding effort is the creation of a new district logo,” according to the district website. “We are happy to announce that this phase will be an RCS student art contest with submissions coming from current students.”
District students will create their own interpretation of a Ravens logo, with entries accepted now through Dec. 8.
“Our district art teachers will review the submissions after the RCS student art contest closes,” according to the district. “The art must be able to be adapted to a logo that can be easily used on clothing and print media.”
After the Dec. 8 deadline, student submissions will be reviewed and winnowed down to five to eight images, which will then be put to a public vote.
The community will be encouraged to take part in the decision-making process by selecting their favorite logo. Voting is expected to take place between Monday, Dec. 18, and Friday, Dec. 22, through an online poll.
The winning logo will be revealed in January.
If you’ve got an aspiring student artist in your life who wants to enter a submission, here are the guidelines for the logo:
- Must be original art created by a current student.
- Must be a two-dimensional drawing/painting/rendering on paper, in color, or in black and white.
- Must be at least 4” in one dimension (4” tall or 4” wide).
- Include some reference or inference to a Raven (school colors of green and gold may be included as well).
- Include the student’s name, grade and homeroom teacher on the back.
- Must be submitted to the student’s main office by noon on Dec. 8.
District art teachers will review the contest submissions from Dec. 11 to Dec. 15, and the public will vote on the final list from Dec. 18 through Dec. 22.
The big reveal will take place in January.
The winning logo will become the property of the RCS district and the artist will be recognized with a plaque that will be placed in a public location in the high school. If needed, the winning entry will be sent to a graphic artist for final rendering.
Once a new logo is finalized, the district will continue with the retirement of the Indians name and logos from uniforms, banners and other signage.
“At the start of the 2024-25 school year, RCS will be the Home of the Ravens,” according to the district website. “Larger changes of rebranding like the athletic fields, pool, and gym floor will be scheduled for replacement via regular maintenance, replacement or construction projects. Some of these areas are already scheduled for update or replacement by 2025.”
Updated imagery that needs to be completed before the end of their expected life will be paid for through funds given to the district through PILOT programs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes), or through funds provided by local business Holcim, according to the district.
Rebranding expenses will not be paid for through the district’s general budget fund, according to the district.
